Not going anywhere..

I'm too frozen to move. Its death cold out. The kind of cold where the second you inhale, your nose hairs freeze. I hate it! This one hurts more because we had such a drop in temperature. 

School was canceled which means I have rats. I'm very tempted to make chocolate chip cookies, but I shouldn't because I will eat them.

On a positive note, the pool is closed again tonight so I won't have to brave the icy roads. DH told me the highway leading from our town has at least an inch of ice on top. The salt they throw down does very little when its this cold out. I'm so ready for spring!! Or at least a temperature around 32.

I did my hour on the treadmill and drank my Emergen-C, but I'm still depressed. I ate some mango and that was the highlight of my day so far. How sad is that! I should be cleaning something but I don't want to. I should find a valuable way to spend my new spare time, but I just want to be a couch potato with Yumi.

I better get away from the computer. Its not helping just sitting here. I promise to be more sunshiny tomorrow.

He didn't get into trouble...

After I took this shot, I gave the camera to DS9. It kept him entertained and it really helped him look around noticing how beautiful our capitol building is. I asked him to remember 3 things to tell Dad tonight. Here's his list:

1. The golden lady on top is not solid gold, only the outside layer.

2. Her name is not "Forward" like everyone thinks. Its "Wisconsin." Forward is the state motto.

3. There's a ghost in the painting in the assembly room. (The artist was asked to paint a badger into the scene and he removed a civil war soldier to balance the painting. After the painting was cleaned, outlines of the image of the missing soldier reappeared.)

This was my first official tour as well. We sat in the Governor's conference room, the committee room, the assembly, the senate and the supreme court. I didn't realize how much artwork there was and how much stone! There are fossils all over the place. Its very cool.

He's going to cause trouble.

I told DS9 we are heading to our state capitol for a tour today. He groaned and said, "Mom, you know I'll be bored. I'll get loud and then get in trouble."

Trying not to laugh, I told him now that he is 9, I'm sure he'll figure out how not to cause trouble just because he's bored. I love his honesty.

I really want to get out of the house, even if it means the risk of DS9 testing to see if his voice echoes at the dome.

What I'm not looking forward to is driving to and from work tonight in the storm. Another arctic blast is headed our way. We are going from 40 degrees to -5 tonight, freezing rain to snow, 60 mph winds. I'm sure I won't be bored, but I may get loud and then cause trouble! :)

Quick and healthy

I used leftovers from our taco bar to whip up a healthy, quick lunch. I layered brown rice, mashed sweet potato, tomato salsa, green pepper, black beans, a little cheddar cheese and flavored with cumin and pepper. Nuked a minute and a half and wha-la... guilt free lunch!

Squeezing it all in- (a clog)

I thought this snap of Yumi helped sum up our weekend. We had a busy one but managed to cram it all together.

Thursday I was stressed. The owner of the pool I work at did something with a project I was working on that offended my manager. I was more upset because the manager I greatly respect and the owner were at odds. Its difficult being in a situation where you have no control and you watch people get hurt.

Friday went better. DS8 turned into DS9, and we took him out for dinner. He choose Red Lobster. He loved his cheesy cheddar biscuit rolls, but my tilapia looked suspicious. I poked at it with my fork and then DS9 said, "Its got Duct Tape in it?" I had been served trout instead of tilapia.

Saturday I picked up Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life - Living the Wisdom Of The Tao. It was just what I needed. I stopped stressing about work.

Saturday night I baked more Domo birthday cake, made a spaghetti supper to enjoy with DMIL, and prepared food for our Sunday family party. We also watched a DVD DS9 had gotten for his birthday, Monster Squad.

Sunday morning, after dreaming about plane crashes all night, I headed into work for our administrative staff meeting. I was nervous about what the owner would say about what had happened on Thursday, but keeping Dr. Dyer's message in mind, I knew I could keep it together. The meeting went ok, but the owner pulled me into her office to apologize to me privately. It was somewhat awkward because I had to be leaving at that very moment to meet my family for DS9's mini-golf party. She was teary and I thought about hugging her, but decided against it because she's said she doesn't like to be touched.

Changing gears was strange. I made it down the road to the party and got everyone started mini-golfing. Everyone seemed to have a good time. DS12 had a hole in one at the black light hole and he ended up winning a free game at the last hole, "Plinko style."

We ended up back at our house pigging out on taco fixings and cake. DS9 loved his gifts and we felt blessed our family could share this day with us.

Through all of this, I still managed to find the time to walk for an hour each day. The last 7 days has proved to me its not impossible. Weekend workouts are a little more tricky but that's because DH is competing with me for the treadmill. He had gotten off and I thought he was done. He came right back after having used the bathroom. Fighting over the treadmill is a good problem to have in a marriage! :) We're going to ask DMIL if we can have her elliptical and then we can work out together. How romantic!!

Well, I have to get going. Our snow is melting fast and the boys want to go sledding before the rain starts. Tomorrow will be cruddy, ice rain with 60 mph winds. Oh joy.

You know you're a cat nut when....

You read a news report that a cougar may be in your area and you want to go look for it!!

http://www.channel3000.com/news/15113257/detail.html

My boys think I'm crazy, but I'm very excited to think cougars may be in our area of Wisconsin. I guess I really wouldn't want to meet one face to face on a hike, but I love cats and would love to see them able to return to wild living.

Staying well for DS8

Its pretty isn't it? I like the protein spikes. I don't want it in my body though.

I know my body is waging a war against the rhino. I'm drinking Emergen-C & tea like I'm an addict. There is always a warm mug in my hand. I'm shoving lots of fruit and veg down my throat and after I spend my hour on the treadmill, I'm taking it easy before I leave for work.

I'm so ready for Spring! My mood has seemed to turn on a dime. Days ago I was feeling it wasn't so bad. The arctic cold air seemed to be cleansing. When you are fighting the rhino though, the cold, dry air doesn't feel so therapeutic anymore.

I must stay well because in just days my DS8 will become my DS9!! I'm so excited for him! I used to feel regret that my babies were no longer babies, and now I'm going through my little boys are no longer little boys. I'm the mom of Tweens! How did that happen?

Today is my last day of obligation and then the fun can begin! Since I don't have to work tomorrow and DH will be out of town rocking it, I'm thinking of kick starting our birthday fun weekend by taking the boys out for Noodles. On Friday I'm sure DS9 will want to eat out at Red Lobster for his Birthday dinner. The only thing he eats there is the garlic cheddar rolls, but this is his favorite. Saturday Grandma arrives and Sunday is official party day.

Wow, I just realized I'll have major food choice challenges ahead of me! I better push away from the computer right now, turn on my favorite cleaning ladies from England and start walking on that treadmill.

Have a great Wednesday!

MLK

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Cabin fever?

I'm going a little crazy. I've been looking all day for my keys, and now I can't find the bird seed! I could have sworn I got a new silicon muffin pan for Christmas, but that too is hiding from me. I'm going to pounce on DH when he walks through the door tonight. Its all his fault right? :)

The snow is coming down big and fluffy. It would be fun if it wasn't so darn cold out! I'm thankful I don't have to work tonight. Good thing too because the key that locks up the pool is on my missing key chain! Grrrrr.....

I made banana bread instead of muffins. I used my mom's healthy recipe. I think I've posted it before, you roast the bananas to bring out more flavor without using fat. The house smells good, and I'm trying to relax with Joss Stone. The Posse is in the basement so I'm staying upstairs. I still don't understand why they have to be so loud. It think its a competitive thing to be heard in the group. Let me turn up Joss a bit more....

I've been reading Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter's book, Everything To Gain, and Barbara Rolls' book, The Volumetrics Eating Plan. Yes, I know these are non-fiction books and I said in 2008 I was going to read more fiction. Old habits die hard.

The Carters are helping me realize life can begin anew at any age, in any circumstance. I was naive thinking ex-Presidents had it made. Being a child at the time when Reagan came into office, I had no idea what the Carters went through. Its inspiring to learn what Jimmy and Rosalynn have done with their lives since leaving the White House! Did you know Presidents have to raise their own funds for their Presidential Libraries?

The Volumetrics book is inspiring me as well. Its basically the same thing you've all heard, eat more fruits and veggies. What I do like about the program is that you don't have to count calories really, if you follow the low energy dense food rule. You also don't have to go hungry.

I've just read everyone should be taking 10,000 steps a day or 5 miles. For kicks I decided to see if I could walk 5 miles on the treadmill. I didn't make it. I watched my favorite BBC America shows, walking for an hour, but I only logged 2.5 miles.  I guess I'll have to work at picking up my pace. I walk so much better outdoors.

I was happy to learn I can eat up to 1831 calories a day and lose weight. The book gives you a formula for figuring that out. Not that I want to count calories!! I did that once and ended up with an eating problem. I kept trying to eat less and less, until I was only eating around 500 a day. Sure I lost weight, but I also screwed up my metabolism, gaining back way more!

Well, I'm getting cold sitting by the window here. I should throw the laundry in, even if that means venturing into the boycave. I'll come back at tea time, with my whole wheat low fat banana bread, and check out everyone's pages.

Take care and hope you're staying warm!

p.s. My mom made me the felted hat. Its very warm and now that I've sewn in the hat band, not scratchy. :)

Warm and yummy!

I cooked up the Spicy Mole Oatmeal chili recipe from the Natural Health magazine. It's very yummy and very easy! No more excuses. I can't say I don't have time to make something healthy and comforting to eat. Here's the recipe:

Spicy Mole Oatmeal Chili

2 T olive oil
1 C chopped yellow onion (1 large one)
1/2 C diced carrots
pinch of sea salt
1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes w/cilantro & lime or Basil & garlic (I went with Basil & garlic)
2 15.5 ounce cans of low sodium kidney beans, drain and rinse
1 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1-2 T chili powder (depends on how spicy you like it)
2 T chipotle sauce ( I didn't have this but used organic salsa.)
1 1/2 C rolled oats
about a cup of water

Heat the oil and cook onions, carrots and salt 3-5 minutes
Add tomatoes and beans
Add cocoa powder, chili powder and mix until incorporated
Add chipotle, oats and water- Go for a thick consistency
Cook 5-10 minutes to break down the oats

Optional- sprinkle cheddar cheese on top to serve- (I'm trying to avoid dairy.)

Calories- 243 makes 8-10 servings

* I thought the oats would be weird but they didn't really effect the taste or texture. The dish really filled me up.

Fluffing my nest

I took this photo of Houdini through the bars of the cage. I used my zoom and I was surprised it worked. He doesn't really stay still on command.

I was domestic goddess today. I scrubbed bathrooms, scaled the laundry mountain, restocked the nest with groceries, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen and baked cookies. I also cleaned up Houdini and Tornado's nest too. I've been motivated by watching "How Clean Is Your House." I'm scared to death those ladies will jump across the pond and ring my doorbell!

The Posse Rats weren't so bad today. Maybe I was too busy to notice. I did hear they broke the Popsicle limit.

Work went much better last night and it helped to know my manager was having the same feelings I was. Sometimes that's all it takes. To know you're not the only one who's getting dumped on by the general public. Plus, I now have 4 days away, 2 nights on, and then 5 days away!

As long as the heat stays on, I'll be able to handle the arctic blast. I've got plenty of creature comforts and indoor activities to keep me busy. I hope everyone can stay warm and cozy this weekend.

I gotta run. DH just pulled up and Family Fun Night can now begin! Yeah!

Thursday 13... Counting my blessings...

I'm trying to get out of my crabby mood. I thought taking a moment to think of 13 things I'm grateful for will help.

13 Things I'm Grateful For

1. DH brought home movies for the weekend! Elephant, The Royal Tenebaums,High Tension, White Noise 2, Sunshine and Shoot 'Em Up - The movie with my green eyed hottie Clive Owen!!

2. My sister called to warn me-  There is no school Friday or Monday. Expect rats.

3. DS8 is feeling better.

4. The rhino hasn't caught me yet!

5. Trader Joe has a store brand of Emergen-C and its cheaper. My favorite right now is strawberry mixed with Diet 7-Up.

6. Natural Health Magazine - Tomorrow I'm going to try their recipe for Spicy Mole Oatmeal Chili. I've never had chili made with oats and cocoa powder. Sounds interesting! Thinks the rats will like it?

7. I have a 50% off coupon at Joann's! 

8. Tonight's my last night of work for the week!

9. Sunday Football  - I never thought I'd say it, but I'll be hoping the Packers win. (Da Bears are out of it.)

10. Peace and Calm essential oil blend- I use it before I go to bed, but perhaps I'll apply some before I leave for work.

11. Spring is 9 weeks from today!!

12. www.freerice.com  We can't stop playing! My personal best is 37, but I'm determined to reach 40!

13. My Cuddle Duds. Its going to be negative Fahrenheit this weekend. My duds will keep me toasty!

Darkside Dawn is here...

**Warning** This post is very negative. Don't waste your time reading it. It was more for me to vent!

I'm in a crabby mood. Parents at the pool are getting to me. You'd be amazed by the rudeness of people. Of course they're not all this way, but the few bad apples brought me down.

Last night, speaking of apples, there was a mother who insisted the owner of the pool granted a scholarship to her daughter's friend. The friend was not on the class list and the class was full. I apologized and said I would speak to the owner, but we have a ratio rule no more than 4 students per instructor. I kept telling her we would do what we could, but I also had to talk to the owner because she left no notes about this girl or a scholarship. She was angry and she kept slamming her fist on the desk until she hit my half eaten apple. I was so grossed out. Why did she have to touch my food?!!  Why was she leaning so far over the desk to be in my face?! Because she was a bitch who wanted to intimidate. It will be interesting to see what my boss decides to do. This isn't the first time people claim to have free lessons only to discover the boss never promised this. You wouldn't believe the people who try to take advantage.

There are several "creep me out" parents. One of them worked a back door deal with a now fired deck manager to bring his daughter in for lessons without paying. There's also another dad who keeps telling his boys, ages 5 & 7, that their teacher is "so hot." He stares at her in her swimsuit and its disgusting. Every week he brings his boys to the snack counter and then teases them. "Do you want Fruit Snacks?" "Yes!" "Well you can't have them! They are junk." He once tried to get me into a debate about how wrong it is to call them fruit snacks.  I keep all conversation with this creep-o to a minimum. For the record, we do sell real fruit. An apple only costs you .25 cents! Its the cheapest snack at the cabana! Of course he never buys his boys even apples.

I think my biggest pet peeve are the parents who just do not supervise their children. They're too busy on their cell phones or visiting with other parents. We actually had a request to remove toys from the waiting area. "Couldn't you just keep the videos going? I'd rather the kids just sit there staring at the TV."  We used to have a Lego table but we had to remove it because certain kids would take apart the table and use the legs as swords and bats.

Speaking of the waiting room, it smells like the locker rooms. Know why? People change their children in there and every night we have at least one accident on the carpet. We've posted signs and asked people to not change their children there. There are lockers rooms!! Its easier to hose down the floor in there then shampoo the carpet every night. Plus, we do have creep-os remember! Use the changing stalls and please don't expose your children!

The Creep-O numero uno is a mom who spanks her daughter's bare bottom. I watched in horror when this woman gave her 2 year old a red backside simply because she wouldn't put on her swimsuit. (Yes, she was also changing her in the waiting room.) I said to her, "Please stop! We can give you a family swim pass or a makeup date if she doesn't want to swim today!"  Now she takes her into the lobby restroom where I get to hear through the door the poor little girl screaming, "NO POTTY NO!! MOMMY NO!! I DON'T HAVE TO POTTY" followed by the sounds of slapping taking place. That little baby girl is going to grow up with the same problems of sexual abuse victims.

Spanking is sex abuse in my book. We tell our kids no one should touch you where your bathing suit touches you, but in our country (USA) spanking is legal?! I think it should be grounds for child abuse. No where in the Bible does it tell you to hit your children! There are so many better ways to teach your children respectful behavior than to smack them.

Is it legal to spank a woman who yells in your face and slams your healthy snack with her fist?! :) Of course not, I'd be arrested, so why are parents allowed to treat children this way? Why do we give adults more protection than children?

Thanks for letting me vent. If you've actually read this far, I'm sorry. I just had to get it out before I put Darkside Dawn back on her leash. Dawninger needs to have that smile back on her face soon.  Maybe I should work on a Thursday 13 Gratitude list......

Just rambling...

I'm want to be a couch potato. Yesterday we discovered on BBC America "How Clean Is Your House" and "You Are What You Eat". Maybe its because we've been trying to clean up our house and our bodies, but these TV shows have me hooked.

I also saw the LMN network is having a "Stay In Bed" weekend. That sounds good. I'd love to just stay under the covers this coming weekend and watch cheesy, dramatic movies. We have a winter storm moving through tonight and then the temperatures are going to drop way down. Its a good time to hibernate.

I really can't though. I have about a week to clean and prepare for DS8's 9th Birthday. I still can't believe my baby will be 9. We're going mini-golfing at an indoor course. He said he'd also like a bowl of mixed Cheetoes, Puffy and Crunchy styles. I think I'll do the taco bar menu again and allow people to feed themselves.

Today we're suppose to go to homeschool gym class, but DS8 still has a really bad cold. Yesterday he ate almost an entire cantaloupe by himself so hopefully his body is fighting back. He may be a really picky eater, but I love that he loves cantaloupe! I was a grown up before I enjoyed it.

I'm addicted to www.freerice.com (Thanks to Kerry). You must give it a try. I'm doing much better than I thought I would or I'm a good guesser.

Well, I better get my butt moving. Hope you have a great Wednesday!

I've got 4 out of 5 covered...

"Dangerous Things You Must Let Your Children Do"

Someone sent me this link to view Gesser Tulley's presentation. Although he isn't a parent, alot of what he says is true. Of course I still believe in being careful!

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/202

If you don't want to take the time to view his presentation, I'll cut to the chase. He lists 5 (really 6) dangerous things your kids should do.


1. PLAY WITH FIRE - We've started fires with magnifying lenses and burnt stuff in our campfire. It was an eye opener seeing how fast dried out Christmas tree branches ignite and burn!

2. OWN A POCKET KNIFE- DS12 actually has 3. Has he cut himself? Yes. Only once though and it was good First Aid practice!  DS8 will be given one as soon as he asks for one.  DS8 has used kitchen knives to cut into foods.

3. THROW A SPEAR- DS12 used his pocket knife and made homemade spears. He set up targets in the yard and had a great time throwing at them.

4. DECONSTRUCT APPLIANCES- I don't think I know any homeschoolers who haven't done this. I have an old toaster, printer and Beta machine waiting for the next urge to hit.

5. BREAK THE DIGITAL MEDIA COPYRIGHT ACT- Ahh.... I plead the 5th.

6. DRIVE A CAR- This is the one we haven't tried yet. If I lived on a farm, with an old truck that wouldn't go faster than 20 miles an hour, maybe we'd try this, but since we don't, I think I'll take the boys Go-Carting as soon as Spring arrives!

The point of his presentation is too often we allow fear to limit our learning. Of course common sense and safety need to be practiced, but sometimes you need to push the envelope.

What would you add to this list?

So Nasty!!

This is why there will be no video games or computer time in our house this week. I finished painting and DH moved the bunk beds into the boys' new room. All of this crap was under their bed!!!!!! I was horrified!!!

I had to leave the room before the nervous breakdown erupted. Once I settled down, rather than yell and scream, I informed them this is their project this coming week. They need to go through all this stuff, throwing away what they don't want and finding a place for the stuff they do. Out of sight, out of mind is not going to cut it.

Their old bedroom has to become the guest room. Once they clear out the junk, I can prime, paint and carpet shampoo, but for now, I have to focus on one room at a time.

Their new room rocks. The paint colors came out really nice and they have much more room. I didn't buy the $5 desks at S.W.A.P. because they were so beat up, but we may have enough room to move the computer desk from downstairs. But that's another project for another weekend.

I'm going to look for under the bed organizers with wheels. I'm not going to allow the frugal mom inside of me to hold back on that one. These kids need help staying organized! I'm also going to look for jungle vine. DS8 wanted a jungle room, but since the boys still want to share a room, I needed to come up with a compromise. I'm going to hang jungle vines around DS8's part of the bunk bed along with his long armed stuffed monkeys and lemurs. I'm also going to look for shelves I can install all along the top perimeter of the room. I'll have to take after pictures once its all completed.

It feels good to get this project going and to bring order to the chaos. There's a satisfaction that comes from fixing your nest and purging the clutter really helps me emotionally. I don't want to be a hoarder, and I don't want my children becoming hoarders either.

At our game day the moms were discussing how to purge toys. Many moms wait for their children to be out of the house so they don't have to deal with the tears, but one mom said she has her daughters right there so they will learn how to let things go. This is smart parenting! I can't wait to start making trips to Goodwill this week!

Friday Fun

We have plans to join our homeschooling friends for Game day. DS8 is hoping we can round up enough players for Apples to Apples.

When we get together for Game days, we also have "Open Mike" which is a sort of show and tell. The kids can share something, perform, bring something they've created, whatever they like. DS8 is thinking of introducing Domo and sharing his latest greatest homemade toy. He blew up the balloon he got from Trader Joes and added a Jelly Belly inside. We've been playing balloon volleyball, keep the balloon from hitting the floor, and making cool sounds as the Jelly Belly bounces around inside. Our favorite is when you get the bean spinning really good with centrifugal force. Who needs high tech?

For supper tonight they have requested we take dad to Taco Bell. Oh yeah! I'm all about that! Yo Quiero Taco Bell!

Hope your Friday is fun too! Have a great weekend!

Why I love my MIL!

(She sends me gems like these!! I loved this and hope you do too! I don't know who wrote it but to me, it sounds like something Erma Bombeck would have wrote? If you know who wrote this, please let me know. Enjoy! )


IF YOU DON'T READ THIS TO THE VERY END, YOU HAVE LOST A DAY IN YOUR LIFE. AND WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED, DO AS I AM DOING AND SEND IT ON.


Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life .. . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle.. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge .

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is..

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Capitol Building Field Trip

Start:	Jan 29, '08 10:00a
Location:	Downtown

touring the capitol building with our homeschool group
(Bonnie is the coordinator)

Easter

Start:

Mar 23, '08

Easter Sunday

WPA conference

Start:	May 2, '08
End:	May 3, '08
Location:	Oshkosh

Homeschooling conference

InHome Conference

Start:	Mar 7, '08
End:	Mar 8, '08
Location:	St Charles, Il

Homeschooling conference

Joe Jackson Concert

Start:

Apr 21, '08

Milwaukee

Welcome to my crazy.....

I have to paint the boys' new bedroom by this weekend. Problem is I can't pick colors. Don't tell me to ask my children. DS8 goes from bright orange to jungle green. I'm trying for something more neutral and will have longevity. So as you can see, I've got all these paint chips on the wall, and I can't make up my mind. DH suggested khaki and green so I'm trying to stay in that family.

Should I:

A.) Cut apart the swatches and throw them in a hat?

B) Throw darts?

C) Play pin the tale on the paint chip?

D) Go back to the hardware store for even more paint chips. Cut them all apart and start gluing them to the wall in a Seurat sort of way.

Can you see I'm losing my mind!

I also feel like there is so much to do and not enough time. The post holiday pace has actually increased. Plans are being laid forth, and I feel like more and more of my calendar is being filled up rather quickly. I have to trust that we'll get done what needs to get done. Its all about letting go and going with the flow.

DS8 quizzes me

DS8:  Mom, if there was a hole in the earth, do you think you would fall through to China?

Me:  I don't know DS8. We should look at our globe and see if China is on the other side.

DS8:  No Mom!! You would only make it to the middle and then gravity would be reversed! You can't fall to China!

You never know what they're thinking do you!

Another quote I like!

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

Too often we give children answers to remember rather than
problems to solve.

--Roger Lewin

Eating Elephant

Bite by bite......

Its got to be because for the past 9 years, we've unschooled. Most homeschoolers I know have too many books and not enough book shelves. We're no different. Today we began to change the guest bedroom into a new bedroom for the boys. The biggest challenge was moving the bookshelves. 

Our home is small. We don't have the luxury of a library room, and as much as I love books, I hate the cluttered look of book shelves. I really didn't want to move the bookcases into the main living areas of the house, so I settled on one in the hallway (photo) and for now, two in our bedroom. You see, I want easy access to our books. I don't want to shove them all down in the basement. I know I'm sacrificing my love nest for now, but after I finish redecorating the boys' new bedroom, perhaps there will be room in the new guest room.

We quickly ran out of boxes to store the books, and I resorted to making stacks in the kitchen. I knew this meant having to touch each book twice- an organizing no no- but I had no other option. Moving the 3 bookcases with the books on them was not going to work. I had to quickly go through and reshelve the books before DH decided to fill them with other stuff like DVDs and CDs. All those empty shelves were so inviting!

The book move took up most of my day, but I did manage to take down the wallpaper border and spackle holes. Tomorrow I will tape and prime.

I'm anxious to get their room done because then the purging can really begin. DS12 agrees with me, he has too much stuff. Their new room will have "a place for everything" and it will be easier for the boys to keep "everything in its place."  Right now you really can't hang out in their room because the floor space is taken up by boxes of toys, magazines and of course, clothes. I have to go through their dressers because they say they can't find room to put away their laundry. How can this be when they keep wearing the same outfits?!

Its overwhelming when I realize how much stuff I have to find places for. Even just finding space to put the stuff I'm purging is a challenge. I'd like to Freecycle it, but I don't want to have stacks piled up waiting to go. I'll probably just start loading up the van and stopping every day on my way to work at Goodwill drop boxes.

I'll keep telling myself "Take it one step at a time- Bite by bite!" 

I can't wait!

I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas. DH bought us Blind Melon tickets for March 18th in Milwaukee!! He promised to take me to more concerts this year after taking my niece to several Velvet Revolver shows last year.

He's really made good in my book! I love Blind Melon! Of course he's also planning on taking my niece to see Velvet Revolver, for a 4th time, in a few weeks in Chicago. I think if he didn't come through with my Blind Melon tickets, I would have poured the guilt on really thick.

March 18th is going to be so great! It will take me back to my B.C. days (Before Children). This is one date night that will rock! When DH and I began dating in high school, over 20 years ago, this is what we did. We went to concerts. We skipped prom to get tickets for the Amnesty International Concert in Chicago 1986, a decision I don't regret one bit. I saw my favorite band at the time, U2, but I also saw the Police reunite for that concert! It was amazing.

You know what else my DH did this weekend? He brought me red roses Friday night! He's so good to me! He knew I was feeling a little sad since DS12 wasn't going to be home for "Family Fun Night." DS12 spent the night at a Posse Rat's nest instead of mine. I know, I was shocked too. I'm thinking the other Mommy Rats are figuring it out.

Since it was only DS8, DH and myself, we asked DS8 what he'd like to do. He decided we should eat a family fry at Culvers. Of course we get there and the flavor of the day is Chocolate Oreo Volcano. Needless to say my diet plans didn't work out that night.

DS8 craves fries like I crave chocolate.  Its something we both have to work on. For his 18th birthday he has told us he plans to celebrate that milestone by ordering, eating and finishing a Family Fry Basket by himself at Culvers. So mark the date, January 25, 2017, DS(18) will consume the impossible. Of course he'll be full grown with the appetite of a teen aged boy. Maybe he will do it?

BLIND MELON CONCERT!!!!!!!!

Start:	Mar 18, '08
Location:	The Rave

OMG!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DH is taking me to see BLIND MELON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rosy cheeks

We braved the negative wind chills to get our need for speed fix. We have a wonderful place to go sledding at our local golf course. We made it up and down only half a dozen times before we needed to get back to our warm home. We'll try to go again today since it should be a little warmer with a high of 32.

Crazy thing is by the end of the weekend, all our snow could melt as we reach almost 50 degrees! This has the boys worried their sledding days will be over, but I reminded them its still only January. We could still have blizzards through March in Wisconsin.

Before we go back to the hill today, I have to be a grown up and meet with our insurance agent for an insurance check up. Blah... I hate these kinds of things. I hope it doesn't take too long. I want to get back to having fun this Friday.

Greeting the New Year...

We had a great time visiting Great Grandma with Domo! For lunch we enjoyed one of the best K-town pizzas in awhile, and the snow held off for us to reach my brother's house for the evening.

We filled up again on fun food - Culvers, and then headed back to my brother's to watch the snow fall, play games and goof around. We decided to head home around 11:00pm. The roads were a little slippery but we made it home safe 2 hours later.

We figured out that we passed the "Clocktower" right at midnight! The Clocktower is a hotel resort in Rockford, Il. As we passed by the resort, the giant clock's hands were together at midnight position. We then saw fireworks go off and realized, we had just greeted 2008!

Today was our last day of holiday goodness. We hosted my parents and sister's family and feasted on taco bar fixings. I made 36 homemade tortillas! A record for me! It went very quick though and the "make your own" tacos, nachos and quesadillas went over really well. I'll have to remember to use this menu again for gatherings.

Tomorrow is back on track day, and I'm not just talking food here. I have been going through library withdrawal!!! I think I'll be there right when it opens, giant totes in hand. I'm going to do my happy, happy, joy, joy dance as the library will be empty except for us homeschooling souls and preschoolers. Maybe afterwards I'll take the boys to the sledding hill where we won't have to worry about running anyone over. I'm even looking forward to going back to work! How twisted is that!!